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June 17, 2015 Newsletter

June 17, 2015 Eco Electric Newsletter

Ceiling Fans for Summer

One way to stay cool and keep energy costs low at the same time is using fans. Ceiling fans move around a lot of air at once and can make a room feel cool and comfortable. Installing a ceiling fan could help reduce electricity costs this summer.

Mounting and attaching a ceiling fan to the electrical wiring can be a difficult task. They can weigh quite a bit, up to 50 pounds, so they should be anchored to a ceiling joist. An electrician can help with mounting and wiring a ceiling fan properly.

Fans only cool down people, not rooms so they should be turned off when people aren’t in the room to help cut back on costs further. They create a wind chill effect, making the skin feel cooler when running. With this, the AC can be set at a slightly higher temperature than normal, saving some money.

Some fans have the option to switch the rotation of the blades. In the summer, it is best to have the blades going in a counterclockwise direction to create the wind chill effect mentioned above. In the winter, making the blades go clockwise will push warm air down into the room.

There are some pretty unique ceiling fans out there. They’re more aesthetically pleasing than the normal ones usually seen in home improvement stores. Some have three mini fans coming off of their base for even more effective air flow or there’s the sleek, minimalistic one-bladed ceiling fan for those modern homes.

Have an outdoorsy theme in the home? There’s a ceiling fan with blades that look like leaves. For those with a futuristic state of mind, there are some high tech-looking options that could be found in some other dimension.

There’s a style of fan out there for any home. Keep energy costs low this summer and look into installing a ceiling fan.

Dimmer Switch Advantages

Dimmer switches have become increasingly popular in homes over the years and for many good reasons. These switches provide homeowners with the ability to control the brightness of a lighting fixture.

Saving money and energy is one of the main benefits dimmer switches provide when installed. When homeowners dim a light, they can potentially save up to 98 percent in energy and 10 percent on the energy bill. That could be quite a cutback on an energy bill, especially in the summer when it tends to be a little higher.

For someone with sensitive eyes, or someone who likes to spend their downtime reading, dimmer switches give them complete power over the brightness of the lights in their home. Harsh lights can be damaging on the eyes or just be too bright for a certain situation. By being able to dim them, homeowners can create mood lighting as well.

When dimmer switches are used, lightbulbs tend to last longer because they are using less energy. The more a light is dimmed, the longer the bulb will last.

Using Motion Sensor Lighting

Outside lights are great when arriving home after dark, or illuminating the numbers on the house so people can find it in the dark. However, outside lights that don’t have motion sensors can waste a lot of energy and money.

If left all on all day so someone has a light on when they come home, it’s wasting a ton of money. Or if they’re left on throughout the night to deter animals or criminals it’s also taking up way more energy than needed.

The solution to this issue is motion sensor outdoor lighting. These lights will only turn on when they detect motion inside the sensor range, limiting the amount of energy being used. They are cost-effective and boast many security benefits.

1. Crime prevention

If a burglar is approaching a home and a light floods the driveway or yard, they are likely to get scared and leave as fast as possible.

2. Coming home after dark

Being in complete darkness is frightening for many people. Having a motion sensor outside light helps to ease that anxiety for someone who routinely arrives home after the sun goes down.

3. Animal deterrence

In areas where animals are prevalent, motion sensor lights can help keep them off the property. Raccoons tend to make a mess and can be dangerous to other animals. These lights can scare them into leaving the trash alone.

4 Tips When Going on Vacation

Homeowners are warned about the dangers of burglars over holidays such as Christmas, but summer is also vacation season and people tend to travel a lot. Here’s how to keep the home safe while on vacation this summer:

Turn off/ unplug appliances

By unplugging appliances such as coffee pots and computers, there’s less chance for a fire to start. Also, the lowered electricity bill at the end of the month will be a bonus.

Hold the mail

Accumulating mail and newspapers are one way burglars know the owners are away. People also gain access to important information that could be in the mail. It’s best to have the post office hold it or have a trusted friend pick it up each day.

Leaving some lights on

To make sure the house doesn’t look vacant, leave on outside motion lights and put a few inside lights on timers. Also turn down the phone volume and turn off alarm clocks. The constant ringing from these could annoy neighbors or alert a potential burglar that nobody is around.

Don’t post on social media

Everyone is excited about going on vacation, but announcing it on Facebook could be a huge mistake. If the wrong person gets wind of that post they could target the poster’s home while they are away. Save the postings to make your friends jealous for when you return home.

Vacation is all about relaxation, but it can be hard to relax while worrying about burglars. Try the tips listed above and have a trusted friend or neighbor keep an eye on the house. That should help homeowners relax during vacation.